The Boyfriend Diaries

14) Where's my goodbye kisses?

    Chapter Fourteen: Where's my goodbye kisses?

    My vision was blurred blue, like I was wearing thick, stodgy contacts in my eyes that stung like hell. I kept my mouth shut but somehow water continued to get past my sealed lips and down into my lungs, causing them to burn like I was gulping liquid fire. My arms were flailing around trying to swim to the surface, but the pool was so crowded everyone kept bumping into me and pushing me down even further. I came to cold realisation that luck might not pull through for me this time. And if I died this day I solemnly swear to all that is unholy that I will return and haunt Katia's ass for the rest of eternity.

    “Oh my god! Get her out!” I could hear Melissa's voice clear above all others, although it was distorted and wavered. “She's been under too long, get everyone out of the pool!”

    “Get out of the way!” I heard a deep voice shout, before I felt, more than saw, someone dive into the water beside me. I was seconds away from my lungs giving out and forcing me to gasp for air, when I felt two strong hands around my waist, pushing us both up.

    The sensation of breaking the surface of the water was how I'd imagine jumping out of a window would feel like. I greedily gulped at the oxygen, still splashing about in panic. I could feel the tangled, drenched wig slumping forward and covering my forehead, I reached up to hold it from falling off my head altogether.

    “It's okay. I got you. I got you, Naomi.” I looked up to see Darren holding onto me tightly as he swam to the edge of the pool. I quickly averted my eyes before he could see the state of my face. Melissa was waiting for me with a towel, ever the quick thinker. She immediately threw it over my head to conceal the mess I probably now looked with the ruin of my disguise. She helped drag me out of the pool and onto land. I almost wanted to kiss it.

    I got up to my feet, shaking from the recent near-death ordeal and Melissa pulled me protectively under her arm, wrapping the towel tighter around my shoulders. I kept most of my face covered, save for one eye.

    Darren hauled himself up out of the water, still clad in his clothes that were now soaked and clinging to his body. Where was my camera when I needed it? They'd make good shots for his diary. All the partiers around us didn't seem to notice that some girl had nearly drowned, instead when they saw Darren they took it as an invitation for a wet t-shirt competition.

    I scanned the swarming crowd and found the culprit, Katia, hidden behind another one of her high school boy-toys, probably the guy she had told to throw me into the pool given the look of regret on his face.

    “Look at her! Pretending to drown so Darren would save her. Boyfriend snatcher!” She accused me. I went to charge at her, red now filling my vision, but Melissa held me back.

    “Katia!” Darren shouted angrily. His voice alone stopped me in my tracks, he was the last person I expected to have my back. “What were you playing at? She has a phobia of water, you idiot! You could have killed her!”

    “Oh don't be so dramatic, baby. It was her plan all along to steal you from me. She had what was coming to her.” She crossed her arms across her waist and pouted childishly.

    “Oh, jealous, were we?” He asked her, sweeping a hand through his dripping blond hair.

    Katia smiled wide, and blushed, embarrassed since there was a group of listeners gathering around the four of us.

    “A little.” She admitted.

    “Huh,” Darren chuckled to himself. “Didn't you once tell me you were above all that? You're not mature at all, you're a jealous, cowardly little girl. I'm done with you.”